Boris Karloff has developed a method of transferring not the brain but the incorporeal mind from one being to another.

(The video is interlaced in the MPEG2 file. If viewing with VLC, deinterlace with menu-path Video/Deinterlace/Blend.)

This movie is part of the collection: Sci-Fi / Horror

Director: Robert Stevenson
Audio/Visual: sound, black & white
Keywords: horror; Karloff; Boris Karloff; science fiction

Creative Commons license: Public Domain Mark 1.0

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Reviewer: rclo - - May 21, 2011
Subject: Where was this?
I don't recall this movie. As a boy, I saw most of the '30s and '40s horror flicks when they were rerun in the early '50s, but this wasn't one of them. It's a terrific movie with a solid cast and a well-conceived and -written script.

Definitely watch this one!!

Reviewer: franklludwig - - April 24, 2011
Subject: Karloff at his best
A great horror film with an intelligent plot and some wonderful philosophical one liners. Besides The Raven (the horror comedy with Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson) this is the best film of Boris Karloff I've seen, and I watched quite a few.

Reviewer: topcat57 - - April 24, 2011
Subject: Well Worth It
This is a fantastic movie! Vic Demise and Backintime said it well. And I agree with them.
I always like Boris Karloff movies, but best in this mad scientist type movie. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say anymore, except, this is well worth your time!

Reviewer: Vic Demise - - January 15, 2011
Subject: Oh hell yes!
You gotta love Karloff, and this is just him at his creepy, charming best! True old school sci-fi,with a good plot (by the standard of its time anyway).
Not to be taken seriously or picked apart, but the story is solid and nicely packaged.
They really should have believed him!
Lots of fun- Bring the kids!

Reviewer: Backintime - - November 11, 2010
Subject: Anna Lee looks great!
This is an excellent British movie from 1936. It features the wonderful Anna Lee and an equally wonderful Boris Karloff. The director Robert Stevenson was married to Miss Lee at the time.

This film has all the right elements for a spooky movie ... mad scientist, crippled assistant, old dark house, beutiful innocent female and bizare experiments!Watch if for yourself!

It was made about the same time as Juggernaut[1936] also available to download here at the IA ... but in my opinion a much weaker production.

I downloaded the 868MB version and found the video quality very good [I use KM Player] also no serious problems with the audio. Many thanks to the uploader!

Reviewer: appledecca - - November 10, 2010
Subject: "But I won't do that!"
Super film...The chimps were champion.Thank You for upload. Worth a watch..oh * some rather abstract sets.

Reviewer: babe917 - - August 28, 2010
Subject: wow! the great Karloff!!
this is such a great movie! well acted and the story was great! i love how this movie kept moving at a great pace! it was so engaging and thrilling!! such a great movie! i love karloff's movies! never seen him in this and what a thrill it was to watch!! if u haven't seen this movie, watch it! its a must see! and it proves there will never be another like karloff!!

Reviewer: robmh - - July 18, 2010
Subject: Great film, worth watching
An allround fine piece of movie making. Everyone did excellent work to put together this great film: from the cinematographer, editor, screenwriter to the actors and actresses. Too bad there isn't as much care put into movies nowadays. The copy is great,which makes the film even more enjoyable. Kudos to the encoder.

Reviewer: Monkey_catcher - - June 25, 2010
Subject: "bob" the doowop monkey
Please ignore. We know that it enjoys throwing its feces at humans.

Reviewer: doowopbob - - June 25, 2010
Subject: ....Ok, So He....
....Made A Monkey Outta Me, But He Gave Me One Huge Banana..!..Girls..Line Up..!

Reviewer: 4everfrankenstein - - June 7, 2010
Subject: Man who changed his mind
Well played- definitely a cut above the Mad Doctor pictures that Karloff was relegated to at Columbia in the 40s. Look for co-star Anna Lee who teamed w/ boris in Val Lewton's BEDLAM.

Reviewer: Moongleam - - May 31, 2010
Subject: To rnrossi
Some things to try:

Make sure the sound on your computer isn't muted. (Verify that other media produce sound.)

Use the free program VLC to view the movie. It can handle more formats than Windoze Media Player can.

Reviewer: rnrossi - - May 30, 2010
Subject: What happened to the sound?
I've downloaded6 the 869 MPEG 2 file twice, there's no sound. What have I done wrong?
Thanks.

Reviewer: bearpuf - - May 23, 2010
Subject: A Terrific Little Gem
Karloff and the rest of the cast do an excellent acting job to this classic plot. I'm still surprised that I missed this one while growing up, or my Alzheimers is revisiting me.

Reviewer: accalaurie49 - - May 21, 2010
Subject: Karloff is great
Karloff is perfect in this movie, but the rest of the cast also. I absolutely like this workaholic Lord Haslewood and the longtime patient of dr. Laurience, always grunting, always cynical.

John Loder and Anna Lee are already in the archive in "King Solomon´s Mines" and "Non Stop New York". John Loder also plays a part in the german silent movie "Alraune" which I hope will be here sooner or later.

I didn´t notice interlacing or hear a hissing sound. Only my windows media player refused to play the film, but VLC did without any problem.

Reviewer: picfixer - - May 21, 2010
Subject: A mind is a terrible thing to change
The title is a play on words as well as a literal description of this excellent, off-beat British entry into the cavalcade of mad scientists yarns; which also manages to be a satire of the notoriously sensational British press. Mind-switching skullduggery that starts with chimps and ends with men, leads to a slam-bang finish that will have you on the edge of your seat. Boris Karloff and Anna Lee are outstanding. The supporting cast that includes Cecil Parker is every bit as good. The filler-free plot is fast moving, and the production values are first rate. Classic horror fans, Karloff fans and good movie fans in general - this one is a real find! Highly recommended! FOOTNOTE: Cecil Parker is best known on this side of the pond for his comedy roles in films like "The Court Jester" and "The Ladykillers."

Reviewer: billbarstad - - May 21, 2010
Subject: Maniacal Mind Swapper
Despite the vapid title, this is not a boring old horror movie. It's a mixture of horror, crime drama, and comedy, well paced and very entertaining. One favorite line from the first act, delivered deadpan: "I don't mind dying, but to be accused of journalism!".

Karloff is very good here. You can see the point where his mind snaps, and becomes the mad scientist I know and love. The rest of the cast is good, too, though the innocents seemed too perky. A British thing, I expect.

The film has all the usual characters (rogue scientist, headstrong young woman, reporter/boyfriend, venal rich guy) and settings (rich city life, backward country digs, those fantastical labs) seen in horror movies of the time. These, coupled with typical base motivations, are used quite skillfully by the writers throughout. Really, the only weakness I noticed was at the end when the police were a little too helpful. Of course a dying Karloff had to utter the expected chestnut about realizing his mistake.

I downloaded the 869MB MPEG2 file. Video was interlaced, but in fine shape. There is hiss in the audio throughout, though easily ignored.